This is the prequel to Truth, Lies, and Consequences. It is the background story of how Fergus and Leliana met and fell in love, but it also will shed more light on what was going on with Alistair and Bella while they were separated from each other.

The first couple of chapters will be more Alistair and Bella focused in order to establish how Fergus and Leliana met. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

"And I still hold your hand in mine, in mine when I'm asleep.
And I will bare my soul in time, when I'm kneeling at your feet.
Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend.
You have been the one, you have been the one for me." Goodbye Lover by James Blunt

Leliana and Bella walked down the hallway of the castle, arm in arm and giggling. It had only been two weeks since Bella had driven a sword through the Archdemon's heart and physically she was almost completely recovered. Her shoulder was still in a sling, but Wynne said that it should be completely healed in the next day or two. Alistair had told Leliana, that emotionally it was taking Bella a little longer heal.

Now that Bella didn't have to focus all of her attention on raising an army and destroying an Archdemon, the reality that she had lost everything was beginning to settle in. Alistair told Leliana that Bella was having nightmares from the night that Howe had her family slaughtered and how helpless he felt because the only thing he could do was hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right.

"So where are we rushing off to?" Leliana asked.

"Alistair asked to see me right away," Bella replied.

"Did he say why?" Leliana asked.

"No, just to hurry and that it was a surprise," Bella replied.

"Oooh, I like surprises," Leliana cooed.

"Well, I don't. I hate them. Nothing good comes from surprises," Bella said.

"Don't be so negative, Bella. Surprises are fun," Leliana countered.

"Fun? Fun! Fun like walking out of a hillside temple to encounter a high dragon? Fun, like stumbling on a broodmother's nest? Are we talking about that kind of fun?" Bella asked.

"Oh come on, Bella, I doubt Alistair has a high dragon or broodmother stashed in his study," Leliana retorted.

Bella grinned at Leliana and said, "You never know. I think he had a secret crush on that dragon."

Leliana laughed as they approached Alistair's study door and Bella knocked. Alistair opened the door and smiled at Bella. "My Love, I have wonderful news," Alistair said as he stepped aside to let Leliana and Bella enter. Leliana glanced around the nicely appointed study and saw a man standing with his back to the door, facing the fireplace.

Leliana heard Bella's breath catch as she whispered, "Fergus?" The man heard Bella's approach and turned around to face them. Bella cried out, "Fergus!" and leapt into his arms.

Leliana smiled as she watched the sibling reunion and said to Alistair, "Good surprise."

Alistair beamed as he watched the love of his life become reunited with the brother she thought she had lost. "I know she hates surprises, but I thought this is one she would enjoy."

"Fergus, thank the Maker, you're alive. I thought I had lost you too," Bella exclaimed as she kissed and hugged her brother. He led her over to the sofa and they both sat down.

"My scouting party was attacked by a group of darkspawn. I lost most of my men and I was seriously injured. A group of Chasind found me and nursed me back to health, but by the time that I was healthy enough to travel it had been months since Ostagar. By the time that I made my way to Denerim you were already leading the charge against the Archdemon. It was quite a shock to hear that my little sister was a Grey Warden and that you were leading the charge in the final battle. Father would have been so proud, Pup."

A sad smile flickered across Bella's face as she spoke, "Fergus, I am so sorry about Oriana and Oren. They were killed before I even knew the castle was under attack. If I had known - "

Fergus interrupted her by pulling Bella into his arms. "Pup, from what I hear there wasn't anything you could have done. That treacherous bastard Howe had everyone fooled. I'm just glad to hear that he died at your hands." Alistair and Leliana excused themselves and gave the siblings some privacy to discuss more personal matters.

The four of them had dinner that evening and it was easy to see Bella's disposition had improved immensely. Her face was glowing as she and her brother laughed and reminisced about growing up Highever. Much to Alistair's amusement Fergus recalled a story of how Bella had wrapped her chest up and donned boys' armor and helm to conceal that she was girl in order to participate in a boys' tournament. Fergus laughed as he recalled their mother's horror when they presented her with the tournament champions' trophy as Bella removed her helm and her long curl locks tumbled out.

"I thought for sure mother was going to faint right there, but father just shook his head and said, 'That's my Pup'," Fergus laughed as he recalled the story.

"Yes, well those tournaments are gender bias. If I want to fight in the ring against a boy then I should be allowed to do so and as I proved, my gender has nothing to do with me being able to kick arse. It's all about skills," Bella chortled.

Fergus laughed, "Yes, little sister and you have been proving that ever since."

Leliana noticed that Fergus had Bella's easy going charm and wit, but he also had a rugged charisma that she found extremely appealing. With Fergus back in Bella's life, Leliana hoped that things would start to calm down for her friend. She had been through so much the past eighteen months she deserved to have a happy ending; besides that always made for a better ballad.

Fergus only stayed in Denerim a few more days before he headed off to Highever to survey the damage. Bella told him that once she settled in at Amaranthine she would ride over to Highever to help.

A week later as Leliana passed by Bella's study, she heard raised voices. The door was cracked open so Leliana slipped into the shadows and eased her way into the room as Bella continued her discussion with Arl Eamon.

"Bella, where I have heard these rumors is not what is important. If they are true then you are doing a large disservice to Alistair, the crown and to Ferelden. If Alistair can't secure the throne with an heir his reign could be in jeopardy and everything that you have worked for will have been for nothing. Bella, you know this. You were raised in the courts. You need to do what you know Alistair won't and can't do." Eamon said.

Tears were streaming down Bella's face and Leliana wanted to take her in her arms and tell her not to listen to Eamon; that she and Alistair were fated to be together, but still she remained in the shadows.

"Eamon, my head tells me what you are saying is true, but my heart is telling me something different. My father always told me to follow my heart and that it wouldn't lead me astray," Bella whispered in what sounded like a defeated tone. 'Don't let him influence you, Bella,' Leliana thought.

"If your father was here he would agree with me, Bella. He understood court politics better than anyone. He would have wanted to see Alistair succeed and would have done whatever it took to secure the throne and bring stability to Ferelden. You are your fathers' daughter in every way. Now you just have to be strong enough to prove it." Eamon turned and walked out of the room, leaving Bella there to come to terms with what she must now do.

Leliana pulled out of the shadows and put her arms around Bella. Bella rested her head on Leliana's shoulder and cried. "Don't listen to him, Bella. He doesn't understand fate or destiny. He has no concept of what true love and soulmates are."

"No, he doesn't, but he does understand court politics and he is right. If I marry Alistair and we can't produce an heir it will make his rule unstable and he will never be able to accomplish all the great things that I know he is capable of."

"Bella, promise me that you won't make any rash decisions without first talking with Alistair," Leliana said.

"Leli, you know as well as I do that Alistair will not be able to make this decision. He won't even let me bring up the subject."

"That's because you are the sun, the moon, and the stars to him. If you leave him without at least trying to talk to him you will devastate him, Bell."

"Okay, you're right. I will talk with him tonight after dinner," Bella replied.

The following morning Leliana's" handmaid brought in her breakfast tray with a sealed letter resting on it. It was addressed to her in Bella's handwriting. She opened the letter.

Dear Leli,

I tried to talk with Alistair last night, but Eamon was already there giving him the same speech that he gave me. Of course Alistair wouldn't hear of it and told Eamon to back off. Leli that is going to be the exact same reaction I'm going to get when I talk to him. I know he won't listen to reason on this. I am not what he needs right now nor can I give him what he needs to secure the throne. I know this is the coward's way out, Leli, but if I talk to him I will lose all of my will power and cave into him because in my heart I don't want to leave him. I love him so much, but I have to do what is best for him.

Leli, I sent Alistair a letter this morning explaining why I needed to go. He is going to need you. Please go to him and help him through this, but please don't let him follow me. It won't be good for either one of us.

I love you, Leli. Thank you for everything. I will see you soon.

Bella

Leliana read the letter again. 'Maker have mercy,' Leliana thought, 'how could she be so incredibly smart and savvy when leading an army yet be so clueless when it came to matters of the heart. Didn't she realize that the Maker had brought them together and that he would work everything out?' Leliana threw on her robe and ran to Alistair's room.

She could hear things being tossed around and as she entered his room. She quickly ducked and missed being hit in the head with a vase by inches.

"For the love of Andraste, Alistair, calm down!" Leliana cried out.

"She left me, Leli. She just up and left me without even saying good-bye. How…." His voice cracked as he spoke, "how could she do this to me…to us?"

Leliana came over and hugged Alistair. "She thinks she is doing what is best for you and Ferelden. Eamon gave her a really hard time yesterday about marrying you."

"Damn him for sticking his noise in where it doesn't belong. He gave me the same lecture last night, but doesn't she realize he is wrong. Doesn't she realize that we can face anything as long as we are together? We defeated a bloody Archdemon and ended a Blight together for Maker's sake - doesn't that count?" Alistair began moving around his room, pulling clothes out of drawers and placing them in a backpack.

"Alistair, what are you doing?" Leliana asked.

He looked at her and raised an eye brow. "What does it look like I am doing? I'm packing. I'm going after her and I am going to bring her back."

"Alistair, don't you think it might be wise to let her calm down and give her some time to think about this decision? Write her letter, send it by bird messenger to Amaranthine so that it's there when she arrives, then in a month go visit her and welcome her to Amaranthine as the new Arlessa," Leliana said persuasively.

"A month! You want me to wait a month to go after her?" Alistair asked.

"She was going to Amaranthine anyways and you were already planning on visiting her after she got settled in. Give her time, Alistair."

"Fine, I will write the letter and wait a month," Alistair conceded. This was going to be the longest month of his life.